hanrahan Meyers architects (hMa) are proud to announce that the firm's Battery Park City Master Plan project has won a Heritage Award for Excellence from the Urban Land Institute (ULI).  Since 1997 hMa have been the Master Plan Architects for Battery Park City's North Neighborhood.  In that capacity, the firm has been a Leader in applying Sustainable Design practices. One of the firm's achievements includes writing the Green Guidelines for the Solaire -  the world's first Green Residential high-rise Tower. 

In addition to hMa's Green Master Plan winning a coveted Heritage Award, Battery Park City's Visionaire was also honored with a 2010 Award for Excellence from the Urban Land Institute.  The Visionaire is a high-rise residential tower that received the top design Award from the ULI as 'America's Greenest Residential High-Rise Tower' -  one of only 10 buildings in the Americas -  and the only building to be recognized for Green Design in New York.  The Visionaire received the US Green Building Council's highest rating for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED Platinum). 

ULI Awards for Excellence define the standard for real estate development practice worldwide. In its 32nd year, the awards program is the centerpiece of ULI’s efforts to identify and promote best Green practices in all types of real estate development.

aerial view of North Neighborhood, Battery Park City Master Plan. Post: Victoria Meyers architect

In 1997 hMa was hired as the Master Plan Architect for Battery Park City Authority’s North Neighborhood, the most forward-thinking Green urban master plan in the United States. The North Neighborhood is the location of the first Green high-rise residential tower in the United States (Green Guidelines by hMa) and is the first Sustainably designed high-rise neighborhood in the world (Green Guidelines by hMa).  When the Master Plan is complete in 2012 it will include a total of 5 million square feet of sustainable buildings, an array of new technologies and operating practices and a unique integration with the spectacular natural features of New York's waterfront.

hanrahan Meyers Architects' configuration of the North Neighborhood buildings emphasizes the area's engagement with nature by creating an interweaving grid of outdoor spaces – including 4 major parks – with 11 residential and public buildings including Stuyvesant High School.  Individual buildings are designed to complete the urban blocks by aligning with lot lines up to the 11th and 14th floors, after which towers are placed up to the 25th and 32nd floors in a complex pattern of offsetting alignments to open up view corridors to the Hudson River, and bring light and air into the parks below.

Read more about the ULI Awards competition and view other award winners at http://www.uli.org.  Read more about hMa and their master plan designs by visiting our website:  www.hanrahanMeyers.com, and go to:  'Master Plans and Landscapes'. To see more of hMa's cutting edge Green Designs go to 'Green'.

  diagram : environmental standards for BPC Master Plan (click image to enlarge)